| Oerlikon Solar to Provide Equipment for 160 Megawatt Thin Film Manufacturing Plant |
| Date: 6-Dec-2006 |
Oerlikon Solar has been awarded a contract totalling CHF 320 million ($270 million) from German API GmbH in Offenbach. The order includes eight Kai 1200 systems, 40 laser scribing and 16 TCO systems as well as the associated processing equipment. Oerlikon Solar will supply turnkey production systems with an annual produced capacity of 160 Megawatts.
API will use these systems to construct the largest European plant for the manufacture of thin-film solar modules in Germany. API is backed by a group of Saudi investors who are entering the future market of thin-film solar power with this initial investment.
The expansion of Oerlikon's new solar business is exceeding all expectations. This division, which was only founded in early 2006, has already posted major orders from Schott Solar GmbH as well as ErSol Thinfilm GmbH with an order value of over CHF 100 million.
"The present order brings us into entirely new dimensions, both in sheer investment volume as well as in the customer base," says Thomas Limberger, CEO of Oerlikon. "This order also demonstrates the potential of Oerlikon thin-film technology, with its powerful growth rate and profit margins high up in the two-digit range." |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| GT Solar Signs Contract for 30MW with Greek Company |
| Date: 4-Dec-2006 |
GT Solar Incorporated, a global leader in photovoltaic (PV) technologies and equipment, announced today the signing of a contract with Solar Cells Hellas, S.A. of Patras, Greece for the sale of equipment and technology that will be used to produce 30MW annually of multi-crystalline solar wafers and cells.
GT Solar Senior Vice President, Keith Matthei, said: "Solar Cells Hellas is in an excellent position to serve Western Europe with multi-crystalline solar wafers and cells from its location in the Greek port city of Patras. We look forward to working with Solar Cells Hellas at a time when the photovoltaic marketplace is growing significantly in Europe."
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| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| Total and EDF Inaugurate New Solar Panel Plant |
| Date: 1-Dec-2006 |
| Total and French electric utility EDF will tomorrow inaugurate a photovoltaic solar panel production plant owned by their joint subsidiary Tenesol. Located in Saint-Martin-du-Touch in the Greater Toulouse region, the plant has a current capacity of 17 MW per year and is expected to eventually create around 100 direct and indirect jobs. For more than 20 years, Tenesol has specialized in designing, manufacturing, installing and operating photovoltaic solar systems. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| SolarWorld Group Expands Module Recycling to U.S. |
| Date: 1-Dec-2006 |
SolarWorld Industries America, subsidiary of Germany-based SolarWorld Group, expanded its solar module recycling program to include the U.S. market by offering customers the opportunity to return used and end-of-life solar modules. The company uses the experience gained in Germany, where recycling skills have been developed over the recent years.
SolarWorld Industries America in Camarillo will accept any crystalline solar module, regardless of the manufacturer, cell shape or size, for recycling. Newly developed technologies enable the company to recycle materials that have so far not been economically usable. The process is particularly effective with older modules that used thicker cells, consisting of two or even three times as much silicon compared to today's state-of-the-art products. |
| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| Suntech Power Signs Multi-Year Supply Agreement with SunEdison |
| Date: 30-Nov-2006 |
Suntech Power has announced a multi-year contract to supply solar modules to a division of SunEdison, LLC, North America's largest solar energy service provider. The total value of the contract ranges from approximately $50 million to $90 million over the term of the contract. The contract is structured in a similar manner as Suntech's long-term silicon supply agreement in order to enhance steady operating results.
The United States has become one of the fastest growing markets for photovoltaic products due to recent initiatives by a number of states to promote the use of renewable energy sources. The California Solar Initiative, which aims to increase the amount of installed solar capacity on rooftops in the state by 3,000MW by 2017, is one of the most progressive. It is anticipated that the solar modules shipped under this contract will be used primarily in the California market. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| ARISE awards engineering contract to DHV B.V. |
| Date: 30-Nov-2006 |
ARISE Technologies Corporation, announced today that it has selected DHV B.V. located in Eindhoven Netherlands as its engineering firm to build its planned 80MW photovoltaic cell production facility in Bischofswerda Germany. Except for the initial "Basic of Design" phase, this contract is conditional upon getting the incentive grants for this project.
The Company is funding research and development of a high-efficiency hetero-junction photovoltaic ("PV") cell in conjunction with the University of Toronto ("U of T"), the Centre for Materials and Manufacturing ("CMM"), and the Emerging Materials Knowledge Network ("EMK"). ARISE believes that its proprietary production process could achieve PV cells with an efficiency of greater than 18%. |
| Source: Yahoo |
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| ReneSola raises 2007 planned production capacity expansion significantly |
| Date: 30-Nov-2006 |
ReneSola Ltd, which makes solar wafers for the photovoltaic industry, said it has raised significantly its planned 2007 production capacity expansion.
Total production capacity by the end of 2007 is now planned to be 265 MW. This is an increase from the last planned production capacity increase announced on Oct 10 from 125 MW to 180 MW.
Since that time, ReneSola said it has received letters of intent, primarily from existing customers, to purchase additional monocrystalline wafers that far exceed the existing monocrystalline wafer production capacity.
ReneSola has therefore added a further 85 MW of monocrystalline furnaces. |
| Source: Interactive Advisor |
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| ENDESA to Source 100 MW of PV Solar from Isofoton in Spain |
| Date: 30-Nov-2006 |
ENDESA and Isofoton have signed a collaboration agreement to ensure that ENDESA has access to the equipment required to develop the solar powered facilities that the company plans to install between now and 2011.
The agreement also furthers commercialization of projects designed to demonstrate concentrating photovoltaic technology (CPV) and calls for a new polysilicon plant to be built in Spain.
ENDESA, Isofoton and the regional Andalusian government will develop and construct Silicio Energia, the polysilicon plant, in Cadiz, southern Spain, to meet demand for this raw material as well as guarantee both companies' supply needs. |
| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| M+W Zander receives order from Conergy to construct a production facility in Frankfurt |
| Date: 30-Nov-2006 |
| M+W Zander FE GmbH (Stuttgart/Germany) has been commissioned by the Conergy Group to plan and construct a fully integrated production facility for photovoltaic cells and modules in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. The volume of the General Contractor order is in the upper double-digit million euro range and also includes hook-up of machinery assets to the supply infrastructure. M+W Zander was awarded the order primarily because the company was in a position to submit an innovative and logical concept for converting the existing building and a timetable for completion on schedule. The first Conergy solar modules are scheduled to roll off the production line in the second half of 2007. By the year 2008, production capacity will stand at 300 megawatts for solar wafers, 275 megawatts for solar cells and 250 megawatts for solar modules. |
| Source: M+W Zander FE GmbH |
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| Maharishi Solar Technology to set up solar grade silicon plant |
| Date: 29-Nov-2006 |
Maharishi Solar Technology (MST) today said it plans to set up a solar grade silicon production plant at a cost of Rs 200 crore.
The plant, which would use commonly available indigenous low cost raw material, would be the first to start production using Photovoltaic (PV) technology, a MST release said.
It would be set up at Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh and meet the power energy requirement by reducing the burden of conventional sources of energy, MST President Ajay Prakash Shrivastava said. |
| Source: New Kerala |
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| Saint-Gobain Vitrage And Shell In Partnership To Produce Photovoltaic Panels |
| Date: 28-Nov-2006 |
Saint-Gobain Vitrage, Saint-Gobain’s Flat Glass Sector, and Shell (Shell Erneuerbare Energien GmbH) announce the foundation of a 50/50 joint-venture for the production and sale of next generation photovoltaic panels.
This company, named AVANCIS, will construct production facilities in Torgau, Germany (Saxony). The initial capacity of the plant will be 20 MW, to be rapidly scaled up. Production should commence in 2008. |
| Source: Glass on Web |
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| Non-Silicon Manufacturing Plant to Open in 2008 |
| Date: 28-Nov-2006 |
With news headlines around the world reporting on the silicon shortage and its potential impact on the future of the solar industry, two European-based companies are banking that next-generation non-silicon technology will be a cost-competitive -- and energy efficient -- alternative to silicon solar modules.
Shell Erneuerbare Energien GmbH and Saint-Gobain Glass Deutschland GmbH, recently announced plans to join forces and create AVANCIS -- an entity that will develop, produce and market next generation solar technology based on Shell's advanced Copper-Indium-Selenium (CIS) thin-film deposited on glass. One of the first orders of business for AVANCIS will be to build a manufacturing plant in Torgau, Germany that will produce photovoltaic panels using the CIS technology. |
| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| The King of Spain Inaugurates the new Isofoton factory in Malaga |
| Date: 28-Nov-2006 |
 On 28 November the King of Spain chaired the inauguration ceremony of the new Isofotón factory loacted in Málaga, Spain.
Together with Álvaro Ybarra, José Luis Manzano and Emiliano Perezagua — respectively President, General Director Delegado and Chief Technology Director- and Jaime Gorbeña — President of the group Bergé— the head of State visited the new factory and switched on the commemorative plate.
The factory measures 28.000 m2, of which 14.500 are dedicatd to production facilities with advanced machineries and process lines. This will permit to increase Isofotón's production capacity up to 200 MW for solar photovoltaic energy and 200.000 200.000 m2 (140 MW) for solar thermal energy.
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| Source: Isofotón (EPIA translation) |
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Learn more on the inauguration (Spanish)
View the pictures on the Casa real website |
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| Saint Gobain and Shell in Partnership to Produce Photovoltaic Panels |
| Date: 28-Nov-2006 |
Saint-Gobain Vitrage, Saint-Gobain’s Flat Glass Sector, and Shell (Shell Erneuerbare Energien GmbH) have announced the foundation of a 50/50 joint-venture for the production and sale of what the companies describe as next generation photovoltaic panels. The company, named AVANCIS, will construct production facilities in Torgau, Germany (Saxony).
The initial capacity of the plant will be 20 Megawatts, to be rapidly scaled up. Production should commence in 2008.
The photovoltaic panels produced by AVANCIS will use the CIS technology. This innovative technology, developed by Shell, is based on Copper-Indium-Selenium thin-film deposited on glass, and does not incorporate the traditional silicon. It offers high electrical efficiency, and is potentially very cost competitive. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Kyocera Solar Electric Systems Benefit Families of Subsidized Housing Development in Mexico |
| Date: 27-Nov-2006 |
Kyocera Solar, Inc. is proud to announce the inauguration of a 220 home housing development located in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The Valle Las Misiones low income housing development, funded by Mexican State and Federal Governments, features Kyocera solar electric systems on each of the 220 homes within the development. Each homes photovoltaic (PV) array consists of 12 Kyocera KC85T solar electric modules, for a total of 230 kilowatts project wide.
Located on the rooftop of every home in Valle Las Misiones, each one kilowatt Kyocera solar system connects to the utility grid, providing electricity to the grid in off peak hours and reducing power taken from the grid during peak hours. High temperatures in the area contribute to a high demand of electricity for the homes. The Mexican government subsidized the solar electric systems for the 220 home development, turning to solar energy for a more efficient and sustainable way to power each home. |
| Source: Kyocera |
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| Q-Cells AG to invest in CIGS Thin-Film Technology developed by Solibro AB |
| Date: 23-Nov-2006 |
Q-Cells AG is investing in a new photovoltaic technology to complement its current technology portfolio. Q-Cells, the world's second-largest manufacturer of solar cells, is joining forces with Solibro AB from Uppsala, Sweden, to set up a joint venture under the name of Solibro GmbH, in which Q-Cells will hold a share of 67.5%.
Solibro GmbH will commercialise the copper indium gallium di-selenide (CIGS) thin-film technology developed in Sweden by Solibro AB. For this purpose there are plans to build an initial factory in Thalheim, which will have an annual production capacity of 25 to 30 MWp. |
| Source: Q-Cells |
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| Suntech to Supply Spain´s Proposed Solar PV Park |
| Date: 22-Nov-2006 |
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. will supply solar modules with a total output of 23.2 megawatts (MW) to Atersa for installation in the Photovoltaic Grid Connection Park in the Extremadura region of Spain. It is expected that these solar modules will be supplied within the first half of 2007.
Atersa, a subsidiary of Elecnor Group, is one of Spain's leading project planning and integrated management and infrastructure development companies. |
| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| SCHOTT Solar Feels Impact of Silicon Shortage |
| Date: 21-Nov-2006 |
SCHOTT Solar, Inc. issued a notice to its employees at its solar wafer and module manufacturing plant in Billerica, Massachusetts, that the facility may have to close down because of inadequate supplies of silicon.
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARNs), which were issued last Thursday, are required under federal law for manufacturing facilities with more than 200 employees. The WARNs said that the plant could close within 60 days.
According to Marc Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SCHOTT Solar Inc., the decision to issue the WARNs was entirely related to the company's inability to lock up enough silicon for cell production. Roper said that SCHOTT had no intentions of pulling out of the U.S. photovoltaic (PV) market. |
| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| First Solar Raises $400 Million |
| Date: 17-Nov-2006 |
Thin film manufacturer, First Solar, Inc. announced today its initial public offering of 20,000,000 shares of common stock at $20 per share. The 20,000,000 shares include 6,750,000 shares which are to be sold by certain stockholders of the Company. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common stock held by the selling stockholders.
First Solar is raising $400 million under this Initial Public Offering.
The Company also granted the underwriters rights to purchase an additional 2,942,500 shares at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The shares will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol ``FSLR.'' |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Voltwerk Inaugurates 1.78 Megawatt Thin Film System |
| Date: 17-Nov-2006 |
Voltwerk AG today inaugurated one of the world's largest thin film photovoltaic systems in Mering near Augsburg, Bavaria together with the State Secretary from the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment, Health and Consumer Protection. Amongst others, many residents and members of the district council were present. They were able to find out about the economic and ecological advantages of photovoltaic power plants.
The plant, with a total output of 1.78 Megawatts, was installed on an area of six hectares by SunTechnics GmbH, a sister company of voltwerk, in a construction time of just three months. Sun-Technics enlisted the help of a total of seven regional partner companies. Over half of the workers involved in the construction came from the Mering region. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| SCHOTT to Build New Solar Receiver Manufacturing Facility in Spain |
| Date: 17-Nov-2006 |
SCHOTT has announced plans to establish a second manufacturing facility for solar receivers in Spain. By opening a second solar receiver plant in the Sevilla region, SCHOTT will effectively double its current solar receiver production capacity by the beginning of 2008. The new plant will require a capital expenditure of approximately $28 million.
In August, the company inaugurated its first dedicated solar receiver production line at the company’s manufacturing site in Mitterteich (Bavaria).
Receivers represent a key component of solar thermal parabolic trough power plants. Solar thermal parabolic trough power plants convert solar energy into heat and then use this heat to generate electricity. |
| Source: Sun-E |
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| DGAP-News : Solarvalue AG: The next steps |
| Date: 17-Nov-2006 |
With the courtesy of GUNTHER Portfolio
Solarvalue's solar grade silicon procedure
At a press conference in Berlin on 11/17/2006, Solarvalue AG, Berlin, presented its corporate strategy and explained its plans for the next six months. John Mott, COO of the future solar grade silicon plant in Ruse, Slovenia, for the first time announced details of the production process.
'We are expecting the authorities to approve our purchase of the TDR plant before the end of November,' says Claudia Boehringer, Chief Executive Officer of Solarvalue AG. 'As soon as we have that approval, we will immediately begin converting the existing metallurgical factory to produce silicon. Keeping the current, experienced staff and management will enable us to begin producing solar grade silicon in just six months.'
'Purchasing the Ruse plant is a stroke of luck,' says John Mott, an expert in silicon production, who will lead the conversion and production activities. 'The essential large-scale equipment we need is there, as well as skilled personnel. We will begin by setting up the 12 MW M5 arc furnace for silicon production. At temperatures of 2,200 °C, the furnace is used for the reduction of high-purity quartz with high-purity carbon to produce metallurgical silicon of 99.9+% purity.' |
| Source: Fiancial |
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| United Solar Ovonic Supplies 420 kW of UNI-SOLAR PV Laminates |
| Date: 16-Nov-2006 |
United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) (NASDAQ: ENER), announced today that it has supplied 420 kW of photovoltaic (PV) laminates to 3rd Rock Systems & Technologies, Inc. (3rd Rock Systems) to power two of its latest Solar School Projects at Yuba City Unified School District and Alpine Union School District.
3rd Rock Systems, a leading renewable energy firm, has successfully commissioned many of California's largest solar schools and is currently using PV laminates manufactured by United Solar Ovonic for its next-generation solar school projects. Based in Burlingame, Calif., 3rd Rock Systems draws on its extensive experience to help clients of all sizes to protect themselves against the rising and volatile costs associated with grid electricity through the use of proven renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic and hydrogen-based fuel cell applications. |
| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| BP Solar to Invest $70 Million to Expand US Facility |
| Date: 16-Nov-2006 |
BP Solar recently unveiled its plans for a $70 million expansion project at its North American headquarters in Frederick, MD. The expansion will result in nearly doubling the facility's current casting and sizing capacity to approximately 150 MW. The company projects that 70 new jobs will be created. Other plans include an upgrade of the interior of the facility by employing sustainable design components.
Initial engineering feasibility studies into the project have already been completed and the company will now carry out detailed front-end engineering design work. This expansion will make BP Solar's Frederick facility the largest fully integrated plant in North America.
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| Source: Clean Edge |
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| VIDEO from Medialink and General Motors: Solar Power Makes a Comeback |
| Date: 16-Nov-2006 |
Solar energy is abundant and infinitely renewable. Now, major corporations are doing their part to help the environment by putting their unused rooftop space to good use.
Corporations like Google, Staples, and General Motors are rolling out the latest solar technology. In fact, the General Motors California facility has the largest corporate design solar energy system in operation. Their current installation generates only one megawatt.
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| Source: Market Watch |
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| Sharp steps up production capacity for solar cells by 20 per cent |
| Date: 16-Nov-2006 |
Demand for PV systems is on the up the world over. This is why technology company Sharp is boosting its production capacity for solar cells at its Japanese plant in Katsuragi. By taking an additional production line into operation, total capacity will be increased by 20 per cent to 600 megawatts per year.
Hamburg, 16 November 2006. Renewable energies have profited from rising energy costs, increased energy demand and progressive environmental damage caused by global warming. The demand for solar cells and PV systems for solar power generation is rising particularly fast. In order to be able to service demand, in November 2006 Sharp will take an additional production line for solar cells into operation at its Japanese plant in Katsuragi. The company will thus be able to boost its annual production capacity from 500 to 600 megawatts. |
| Source: Sharp |
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| Sharp Adds Two New Thin-Film Solar Modules |
| Date: 16-Nov-2006 |
Sharp Corporation will introduce two new thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) 90-watt modules to its commercial lineup that use stacked layers of amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon for a conversion efficiency rate of 8.5% -- 40% higher than conventional amorphous solar cells.
The NA-901WP is intended for industrial/commercial use in international markets, and the NA-902WP is targeted at the Japanese market. The NA-901WP and NA-902WP are high-output models, delivering 90 W of power. The adoption of an Amorphous/Microcrystalline Thin-Film Tandem Cell design is achieving some of the industry's highest levels for thin-film silicon-based solar cells currently in volume production.
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| Source: Renewable Energy Access |
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| Robosafe stops module thieves |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Solar modules have been on the list of »things worth stealing« for some time. But now Meteocontrol GmbH wants to make life a lot harder for thieves with its alarm system, Robosafe.
Together with Kopf AG, it has developed an alarm system that adds to the company‘s monitoring system, Safersun. If a module is moved out of place, Robosafe sends an alarm signal via email, SMS, or fax – though it also can sound an alarm on-site to frighten the potential thief away. |
| Source: Photon-Magazine |
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| Sunways starts AT Solar Inverter product line |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Sunways AG presented a prototype of its new inverter series at the EUPVSEC in Dresden in September. At the beginning of 2007 the current NT series will be joined by the AT Solar Inverter.
The new product is also a transformerless inverter. AT stands for »Advanced Technology« and the design promises an »extended range of applications.«
Four power classes are planned, ranging from 2 to 5 kW in output power. The MPP input voltage ranges from 100 to 600 V. |
| Source: Photon-Magazine |
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| REC announces major cell/module expansion and silicon supply contracts |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Fully integrated PV manufacturer Renewable Energy Corporation AS (REC) of Norway plans to dramatically ramp up its solar cell and module production during 2007 and 2008, the company disclosed on Sept. 20.
REC says it will invest 700 million NOK ($107 million) to increase its multicrystalline cell production from its current level of 45 MW to 225 MW, with a first-stage ramp-up beginning in late 2007 and a second stage beginning in the second quarter of 2008. On the module side, REC will invest 100 million NOK ($15.3 million) to expand capacity from 45 MW to 100 MW, with ramp-up beginning in late 2007. According to REC, both plants will continue to use wafers from REC Wafer. |
| Source: Photon-Magazine |
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| Solon reactivates project business |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Germany-based Solon AG is clearly strengthening its internal structures for the project business – in particular for large ground-mounted solar power plants using its Solon Mover tracking system in foreign markets.
Solon‘s subsidiary Soline GmbH is responsible for planning and marketing these large projects. |
| Source: Photon-Magazine |
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| SunPower to Acquire PowerLight Corporation |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Solar cell manufacturer, SunPower Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PowerLight Corp., a privately owned solar systems provider based in Berkeley, California. PowerLight is a leading global provider of large-scale solar power systems, having designed and deployed hundreds of large-scale solar systems with a total capacity of more than 100 megawatts over the past ten years.
The PowerLight acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to SunPower's non-GAAP earnings.
In North America, PowerLight is the market-leading installer of large, multi-hundred-kilowatt commercial rooftop and ground-mounted solar power plants in California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Hawaii. The company recently began providing complete residential solar system solutions to more than a dozen leading production homebuilders in California. In Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Korea, PowerLight designs, develops, operates and maintains solar electric power plants ranging from one megawatt to more than 10 megawatts, including two of the world's largest solar electric power plants. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Applied Materials enters the PV sector |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer Applied Materials wants to share its long-time experience in driving down product cost with the solar industry – and of course also profit from this promising sector in the long run.
Charlie Gay has seen plenty of companies come and go. In his over 30 years of solar business experience, he has worked for such illustrious names as Spectrolab, Arco Solar, Siemens Solar, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), ASE Americas, and SunPower – and in many cases, he has even been at the helm. Now the PV pioneer has taken a new challenge.
An article of Michael Schmela. |
| Source: Photon-Magazine |
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| Suntech Announces 5-Year Silicon Wafer Purchase Agreement |
| Date: 15-Nov-2006 |
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with a China-based, US-owned leading manufacturer of silicon wafers to purchase silicon wafers over a 5-year period. The contract provides for increased volumes over the course of the term with an annual price review. Based on existing contract prices, the value of the silicon wafers to be supplied is approximately $475 million to $580 million.
We believe that this agreement will further ensure Suntech's future supply of silicon at prices that are measurably below spot market prices. This will enable us to continue our delivery of solar products at the lowest possible cost per watt to a growing number of international markets, said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's chairman and CEO.
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| Source: MarketWatch |
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| Q-Cells AG: Q-Cells AG publishes third quarter figures |
| Date: 14-Nov-2006 |
- Sales rise by 95% in the first nine months, net income for the period climbs 150%
- Outlook raised once again: Net income for 2006 expected to reach up to EUR 85 million (previously EUR 75 million)
Thalheim, November 14, 2006 - Q-Cells AG (QCE; WKN 555866) has published its quarterly report as of September 30, 2006. As the European market leader and world's second-largest manufacturer of solar cells, Q-Cells AG has continued on its growth course, increasing production for the first nine months of 2006 by approximately 63% to 180.1 MWp (September 30, 2005: 110.7 MWp).
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| Source: Q-Cells |
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| Sunways AG: 90 percent rise in sales for first nine months |
| Date: 14-Nov-2006 |
| Sunways AG closed the third quarter with consolidated net income of 1.9 million Euro (prior year: 0.0 million Euro); EBIT amounted to +0.5 million Euro (prior year: +0.5 million Euro). At the nine��month stage, consolidated EBIT of +1.8 million Euro (prior year: +1.1 million Euro) were generated. At the end of the third quarter, earnings per share were 0.21 Euro (prior year: 0.00 Euro). |
| Source: Sunways |
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| Conergy on Course for 50% Revenue and Profit Growth in 2006 |
| Date: 14-Nov-2006 |
Full order books put Hamburg-based Conergy AG on course to increase its total annual sales by at least 50 percent compared to the previous year (EUR 530.2 million), to more than EUR 800 million. The traditional end-of-year leap in sales will also see its after-tax profit grow to EUR 40 million (previous year: EUR 27.8 million).
As in previous years, Conergy again expects a positive cash flow in 2007.
In the first nine months, Group revenues increased by 53 percent to EUR 384.5 million (same period last year: EUR 250.9 million). By the end of the year, further solar, wind and bioenergy projects with a sales volume of more than EUR 390 million will be up and running according to plan.
To substantially support the strongly growing project business and increase overseas sales, the workforce was almost doubled on October 1 to 1,340 (same period last year: 696). Thanks to the exponential growth in the high-margin overseas business and the large projects running according to plan, Conergy is on course to meet its set goals and not to build up stocks of solar modules while purchase costs are on a downward trend. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Conergy Board Approves Go Ahead for €250M Module, Wafer and Cell Manufacturing Facility |
| Date: 13-Nov-2006 |
Hamburg-based Conergy AG is building one of the world’s most technologically advanced production plant for solar modules on the site of the former chip factory in Frankfurt (Oder). Conergy’s board of management has now given the green light for building to start.
In the first stage of development, the company will invest around €250 million in what Conergy describes as the world’s first and only fully integrated mass production of wafers, cells and modules. In the medium term, it will create more than 1,000 jobs on the site of the former chip factory. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Conergy Locates Operations in Pennsylvania |
| Date: 10-Nov-2006 |
Conergy AG is to locate the North American headquarters of its renewable energy project development and financing subsidiary, voltwerk, and the East Coast operations of its solar engineering and installation subsidiary, SunTechnics, in Pennsylvania. The company explains that this strategic decision will bring the company closer to customers in the growing market for renewable energy in the eastern United States.
The Conergy Group is number one in sales among European solar power firms, with a global presence in 22 countries. With a vertical integration strategy that positions the company strongly in each component of the renewable energy value chain and local-market offices in California, New Mexico and Colorado, the company expects global revenues to continue to rise in 2007 and 2008 by at least another 50%. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| ACCIONA Energía Signs Solar Module Supply Contract with Yingli Solar |
| Date: 10-Nov-2006 |
ACCIONA Energía has signed a contract with Chinese solar cell and module manufacturer, Yingli Solar for the supply of 42 Megawatts of photovoltaic modules. The modules will be used in the first phase of the solar project that the Spanish group will build in Moura (Portugal). ACCIONA Energía notes that this system will have the highest installed capacity, by far, of any facility of its type installed in the world.
The agreement, signed today in the head office of ACCIONA Energía by Fermín Gembero, General Manager of the renewables company and Liangsheng, General Manager of the Chinese group, envisages the extension of the supply for a second phase of the Moura photovoltaic plant. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Taiwanese groups partner for solar power |
| Date: 10-Nov-2006 |
ST Microelectronics NV is teaming up with Delta Electronics, Inc. of Taiwan and its majority-owned subsidiary DelSolar Co. Ltd. (Taiwan) for the development of solar power technologies.
The three companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding that involves, initially, exploring cooperation opportunities in areas such as increasing solar cell production and developing photovoltaic inverter and power supply applications.
They say the intention is to move to forming strategic partnerships once feasibility studies have been concluded.
The team brings together ST's strengths in semiconductors for power conversion applications, DelSolar's in solar cell manufacturing and Delta's leading position in switching power supplies. Delta, the leading provider of SPS devices, is now focusing on photovoltaic inverter design and production and sees the collaboration as a way to advance this strategy and become a major player in the fast growing solar energy system market. |
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| Power Management Companies Sign MOU for Solar Energy Cooperation |
| Date: 9-Nov-2006 |
Three of the world's leading experts in power management technologies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of photovoltaic power generation.
Under the terms of the MOU, Delta Electronics, Inc. of Taiwan, its majority-owned subsidiary DelSolar Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), and STMicroelectronics NV will explore strategic cooperation opportunities with the intention of concluding a strategic partnership in areas such as increasing solar cell production, and developing photovoltaic inverter and power supply applications.
DelSolar intends to increase its production capacity from today's 50MW to 100MW in 2007 to meet market demand. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| PowerLight Corporation Breaks Ground on a 20 Megawatt Photovoltaic Project in Spain for Elecnor |
| Date: 9-Nov-2006 |
Elecnor, S.A. and PowerLight broke ground today on a 20 megawatt solar power system in the town of Trujillo, Cáceres in Spain. PowerLight Corporation, the leading global provider of large-scale solar power systems, is working with Elecnor to design, develop and deploy the solar power system, named ‘La Magascona’, which will make use of PowerLight PowerTracker® Solar Power Systems, the most widely deployed single-axis solar tracking system in the world. The 20 MW project will be owned by Fotowatio Energía Solar, and will cover an area of approximately 100 hectares.
“With the development of La Magascona, PowerLight further advances its goal of deploying large-scale, emissions-free solar power plants throughout Europe,” said Marco Northland, PowerLight General Manager for Europe. “With over 45 MWs of PowerTracker projects in deployment in Spain and Portugal through 2007, PowerLight continues to lead the market in providing single-axis solar tracking systems for utility-scale power plants.” PowerLight was recently selected by a leading solar developer for another 12 MW project in Spain, which will be deployed in 2007. |
| Source: Powerlight |
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| Suntech CEO Establishes China Solar Photovoltaic Suntech Prize |
| Date: 8-Nov-2006 |
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, announced today that Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO, has established the China Solar Photovoltaic Suntech Prize to honor engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and government officials who have made substantial contributions to the development of China's PV industry.
"It is a personal honor to establish this prize that will recognize some of the important contributors to the photovoltaic field in China and their achievements," remarked Dr. Zhengrong Shi. "Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source and I hope this prize will help to promote its adoption throughout China."
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| Source: Market Watch |
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| Hydro Invests in Silicon Wafer Manufacturer |
| Date: 7-Nov-2006 |
Hydro is investing NOK 150 million ($23 million) in the solar energy company Norsun, which is planning to set up a plant in Årdal for the production of monocrystalline silicon wafers for solar cells. Norsun was started up by Alf Bjørseth, well-known within the international solar energy community. He also founded the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC).
Monocrystalline silicon wafers are made of pure silicon and used in the manufacture of energy-efficient solar cells and panels. The silicon wafers will be sold on the international solar energy market. Hydro will hold a minority share in the company, which is also thinking of investing in complementary solar energy technologies.
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| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| SunEdison and SkyPower Corporation in Canadian Joint Venture |
| Date: 6-Nov-2006 |
SunEdison LLC and SkyPower Corp., a leading Canadian-based renewable energy developer, have completed a joint venture agreement. SunEdison & SkyPower have joined forces to develop, build, own and operate up to 50MW of solar photovoltaic farms across Ontario. The companies says that construction of these solar photovoltaic farms in Canada will drive immediate new job growth while generating carbon free renewable energy. Common in the European market, only recently have solar photovoltaic farms begun to see broader adoption in North America.
SunEdison LLC is the only company to simplify solar by providing turn-key solar energy services for utilities, government agencies, and commercial enterprises. Under the turn-key services model, SunEdison finances, installs, owns and operates photovoltaic power plants at the customer premise. SunEdison's turn-key services model has been adopted by leading commercial, government and utility customers such as Staples, the State of California and Xcel Energy. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Honda Establishes Solar Cell Subsidiary; To Start Thin Film Manufacturing |
| Date: 1-Nov-2006 |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., which will produce and sell the next-generation thin film solar cell independently developed by Honda. The new company will lead Honda to make a full-scale entry into the solar cell business.
The next-generation solar cell to be produced and sold by Honda Soltec was developed by Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., the production engineering subsidiary of Honda. By using thin film made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), Honda's next-generation solar cell achieves a major reduction in the amount of energy consumed during the manufacturing process by approximately 50% compared to what is required to produce conventional crystal silicon solar cells. This makes the new solar cell more environmentally-friendly by reducing the amount of CO2 generated even from the production stage. |
| Source: Solarbuzz |
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| Würth Solar opens CISfab solar manufacturing plant in Schwäbisch Hall |
| Date: 27-Oct-2006 |
Almost exactly one year after the ground-breaking ceremony,
Würth Solar today celebrated the opening of CISfab, its new production site for CIS solar modules in
Schwäbisch Hall. The company is thus opening a new chapter in photovoltaics, as this represents the first mass production of CIS solar modules worldwide. Contrary to conventional modules, CIS solar modules make do without silicon, a currently scarce raw material, and are therefore viewed in the industry as very future-oriented. "Würth Solar will continuously increase production capacity until yearend and then reach full capacity at CISfab as planned at the turn of the year. This makes us the forerunner in the new technology of photovoltaics and sets a milestone in the booming solar industry," says Karl-Heinz Groß, CEO of Würth Solar. From 2007 onwards, Würth Solar plans to manufacture around 200,000 CIS solar modules per annum, which corresponds to around 14.8 megawatts of available energy. CISfab will boast a headcount of around 175 in 2007, of which 35 staff will report to the Würth Solergy sales unit. |
| Source: Würth Solar |
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| MEMC Inks Solar Wafer Deal with Gintech |
| Date: 26-Oct-2006 |
More sunny days are ahead for the increasingly popular solar industry. MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. has inked a definitive agreement to supply solar grade silicon wafers to Taiwan-based solar cell maker Gintech Energy Corp.
Under the terms of the agreement, MEMC will supply solar wafers to Gintech over a 10-year period, with pre-determined pricing, on a take or pay basis beginning in the second half of 2007. Sales of the wafers over the period would generate between $2.5 billion to $3 billion in revenue for MEMC. |
| Source: Semiconductor |
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| Google to install solar panels |
| Date: 25-Oct-2006 |
A major internet search engine will install 9,200 solar panels on its new headquarters.
“Soon we plan to begin installation of 1.6 MW of solar photovoltaic panels at our Mountain View campus,” says Robyn Beavers of Google. “This project will be the largest solar installation on any corporate campus in the U.S. and we think it's one of the largest on any corporate site in the world.”
The system will provide 30% of the power at the million-square-foot campus in Mountain View, a suburb of San Francisco. When commissioned next spring, the solar panels will generate electricity for 1,000 homes.
“At Google, we've always taken advantage of the sun and now we're ready to use the sun yet another way: to create clean electricity,” adds Beavers. The panels will cover the roofs of four main buildings of the ‘Googleplex’ as well as two buildings across the street and on support structures in parking lots. |
| Source: Refocus |
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| Phönix SonnenStrom AG: figures as per 30 September 2006 |
| Date: 30-Sep-2006 |
| After a good third quarter, Phönix SonnenStrom AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93) has virtually made up for the weak first half year. The Group’s total sales revenues over the period from 1 July until 30 September 2006 came to € 28.6 million, which is an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year’s period (€ 21.9 million). EBIT stood at € 1.49 million in the third quarter, thereby exceeding the 2005 figure of € 1.20 million by almost 25 percent. The EBIT margin in the third quarter was 5.2 percent which was considerably higher than in the preceding quarter (0.7 percent). Accordingly, it almost reached the level of previous year (5.4 percent). |
| Source: Phönix SonnenStrom AG |
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| SunPower Inks $5M Ingot JV Agreement |
| Date: 29-Sep-2006 |
To secure its supply of silicon, San Jose-based solar cell and solar panel provider SunPower Corp. reported today it has formed a joint venture with Korea-based equipment manufacturer Woongjin Coway to manufacture mono-crystalline silicon ingots.
The joint venture will operate in Korea, with polysilicon to be supplied mainly from DC Chemical. SunPower formed a supply agreement with DC Chemical in July.
The Cypress Semiconductor subsidiary says it will bring approximately $5 million in capital and technology expertise to the table and will sell polysilicon to the joint venture, as well as obtain silicon ingots from the joint venture. |
| Source: Semiconductor |
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